I went to school just down the road from Tito’s Tacos in Culver City and it became a lunch time and after school destination for us to get something good and cheap enough for our allowance. It became a habit and like almost everything that you grow up eating, it became as much of a comfort food as mom’s cooking.

I have been living out of state for a long time now but every time I go back to L.A., Tito’s Tacos is a must stop and their all meat burrito is a must have. I have never found anything like it anywhere else. So I was genuinely excited when one of my facebook friends who also attended the same school posted that he found a recipe that came really close to the Tito’s Tacos all meat burrito! He tried this copy cat recipe from food.com and since he said it was just like the real thing, I decided to give it a go. Of course, I couldn’t just follow the recipe, I had to tweak it just a bit.

I must say, I was quite happy with the result and so was the family. I had mine with just meat and cheese because I wanted to see if it was just as I remember having, and I was not disappointed! The rest of the family added extras like sour cream and pico de gallo and rice with theirs and they all proclaimed they would love to have this added to the regulars on the menu. And just like any good stew, this was even better the next day!

I am a terrible housekeeper but I do love to cook so it all evens out in the end. I like to try new recipes that I think my family will like. However, I am not one to follow all recipes to the letter. I tend to tweak and change the recipes based on what I have on hand and how I am feeling at the time. Feel free to share your versions, I just might try it out next time I make the dish again.

15 Responses to "Tito’s Tacos’ All Meat Burrito"

Back in 72, I parked my new red jeep out front of Tito’s, it was on the corner then. Two cars got into it and went into my new jeep. Never forget Tito’s I got home with burrito’s and a banged up jeep. I am in Palm Springs now but spent years going to Johneys and Tito’s most Sundays. Two places that have great food.

BTW, to Gail who asked about their salsa recipe, it’s really very simple. Just tomatoes, some onion, and salt! Put it in a blender or food processor and you got it! Of course, when I make mine, I always add some jalapeno and cilantro.

I found you on Pinterest. I also grew up and lived in Culver City. Yep went to CCHS. Lived in Studio Village. My first date with my husband of 44 years was at Tito’s. He was a big spender back then. Got me 20cent tacos and 5 cents extra for the cheese. We spend time in So Cal in the Fall and of course Tito’s is always at the top of the must do list.

An amazing place and many of the workers have worked there 30+/- years

I, too, graduated from Culver High and went to Titos almost every day. We have lived on the Central Coast of California for 40 years and when ever we are even near L.A. We take the 405 down to Titos. My favorite is also the all meat burrito. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I will try it as soon as I can gather all the ingredients together.

You my lady are an Angel! I grew up with parents who grew up eating Tito’s. It was a must stop everytime we went to Cali. In fact, if you went to Cali, and did not stop at Tito’s and bring it back home, you may as well not come home. I cannot wait to try this recipe.

Thanks for posting! I ate at Titos regularly for 30+ years. I remember the high school gang piling into a car and going to Titos! I recently moved to Portland and make sure I eat there every time I visit my mom. Needless to say, I miss it! I just made 1/2 of thIS recipe. I wouldn’t say this is spot on. It’s a little too spicy and I would recommend to trim the fat. That being said, it’s GREAT! Next time I make it, which will be very soon, I will cut the chili portions in half and maybe experiment with a different beef broth and/or put less broth and add a water. Tomorrow I will cook refried beens and make it a regular burrito with cheese! Does anybody have a copycat Tito’s guacamole recipe? I would love to dip it!

I have been eating at Tito’s since it was in the corner stand that is now occupied by a rival. I used to skip lunch at Venice HS and get a couple of tacos after school. I don’t have an exact recipe, but the burrito meat is just a red pipian sauce, search for that. The taco meat is just slow cooked beef and shredded, not the same meat. The red salsa always seemed like just tomato, maybe a little onion, black pepper and salt ground in the molcajete. The green sauce seems like canned jalapenos pureed or done in the molcajete as well

I just made a half recipe of this and it is absolutely spot on. After I started I discovered that I had no paprika so I substituted with pasilla chile powder. It did not affect the taste but it was a little less red in color than what Tito’s serves. I also thickened it up a bit by ladling off a couple of cups of the broth into a sauce pan, adding a slurry of cornstarch, and then returning it to the crock pot. Fantastic. Thanks for figuring this out.

I have been going to Titos Tacos for as long as Tito’s has been there. Close to 50 yrs . I’ve never tried to make their meat sauce I am planning on trying this. But I do know you do not see onions or anything else in the sauce. So as for the onions or anything else you might try I’d purée the onions for sure. I love the taste of onions and a lot of recipts call for them. But I don’t like the texture or pieces in my food. So many things I make I just purée them. I have the taste and no ones knows they are there..the Burritos are never spicey..So I wouldn’t use anything that has too much spice to it. I might after I make sure it’s close to Tito’s. But I want to make it just like theirs first..

There is Black Pepper for sure in the Salsa. I think they add just a lit tiny bit of the green in it as well.. which is chopped Jalopinos.. Sometimes it’s a little spicier than other times. But even Black Pepper can spice it up..

Thank you for posting this.
PS.. There is a Mexican food place here in my town of Littlerock, Ca. They make a meat sauce that tastes just like Tito’s except it’s a little more runny. They put it over their Tamales just like Tito’s does..